Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No. 132/2007, 9 - 11 November, 2007
Editorial
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
SHOULD ADVISE THE PRESIDENT
Chief Manneh’s case will again be brought up before the ECOWAS Court. The
government should examine what it had gained by detaining Rambo for over a
year. The danger of long detention without trial is the possibility of sickness
and even death while in detention. Such developments become tragic. Human
right Law protects both state and person. A State which respects human rights is
protected form having a record of maltreating its people with impunity.
In short, if a police officer abides by the constitutional provisions and
inform a suspect of the cause of his or her detention within three hours and
enable the person to gain access to a legal counsel, no person will disappear
or be tortured. The role of a Republic is to protect the sovereignty of the
people .This requires leaders who consider themselves as servants of the
people; Section 72 of the Constitution states that ‘’The Attorney General shall be
the principal legal adviser of the state’’
We therefore hope that the person in charge will be afforded all the support
necessary to fulfill the terms of her oath to perform her duties without
fear or favour, affection or ill will.
Former SoS’s Wife Convicted
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
Mrs Ndey Njie, the wife of the former Secretary of State for Youth Sports
and Religious Affairs, was on Wednesday 7 November convicted by Principal
Magistrate B.Y Camara of Banjul Magistrate Court.
Delivering the judgment, Magistrate B.Y Camara pointed out that the accused
person, Mrs. Ndey Njie, was charged with common assault contrary to section
227 of the Criminal Code, Cap 10. He stated before the court that Mrs. Ndey
Njie,on the 14 May,at the police headquarters unlawfully assaulted one Mrs.
Nyarra Adams by slapping her on the face. Magistrate Camara said the prosecution
had a task to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. Magistrate Camara
indicated that the prosecution had called five witnesses to prove its case. He
noted that the witnesses included the complainant, Nyarra Adams, her husband
Saikou Lamin Adams, Sergeant Lamin Cham, Police Commissioner Essa Badjie, alias
“Jesus,” and Assistant Superintendent, Malanin Ceesay; that their evidences
before the court corroborated each other; that the accused person indeed
assaulted the complainant. He said most of the witnesses produced by the
prosecution are all senior security officers who testified that they witness the
case before the court. Magistrate Camara said that on the side of the defence
they have called only two witnesses to defend their case; that Mr. Abdoulie
Faal and Mr. Musa Njie all testified that they heard the complainant using foul
words towards the accused person’s father; that there was a quarrel, but no
assault has taken place. Magistrate Camara ruled that it is the conclusion of
the court that the prosecution has proved their case and therefore convicted
the accused as charged.
Mitigating on behalf of the accused person, Counsel Haddy Dandeh Njie
pleaded that the accused is 30 years old and is currently taking care of a
twelve-year-old girl. She said the accused has never had a tussle with the law.
Counsel Njie added that the accused regrets and expresses embarrassment to the
fact that she was standing trial at a court.
Magistrate Camara said the behaviour of the accused was stupid for her to
act in such a manner at such a place, like the police headquarters. He noted
that it was lack of discipline for one to behave in that way knowing that one’s
husband is a high-ranking government official. He therefore sentenced her to
a fine of D7,000 dalasis and another D5,000 dalasis to compensate Nyarra
Adams for causing embarrassment to her in front of the police officers and in
default to serve 12 months in prison.
Stakeholders Comparative
Studies On Jetty Project Validated
By Modou Jonga & Amie Sanneh
A one-day consultative workshop to validate the comparative studies of the
fisheries Jetty landing fees and fuel under the Gambian Artisanal fisheries
Development Project was on Thursday 8 November held at the Corinthia Atlantic
Hotel in Banjul.
In his welcoming remarks, the Permanent Secretary at the Department of State
for Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly matters, Mr. Lamin
Nyabally said the essence of the Gambia Artisanal Fisheries Development Project
(GAFDP) is to improve fisheries facilities and infrastructure. Mr. Nyabally
expressed hope that the discussion on the GAFDP comparative studies will be
meaningful.
The Director of Fisheries Mr. Adiatou E. Njai said the main objectives of
the project are in five components, namely, the improvement of fisheries and
infrastructures, strengthening of fisheries Department, strengthening
monitoring, control and surveillance, credit program, and project management.
Speaking further, the Fisheries Director noted that the fisheries Jetty will
be managed by The Gambia Ports Authority on behalf of the Fisheries
Department based on a management Agreement that spells out the terms and conditions
of management.Mr Njie said the GPA signed this management agreement in 2001.
On the study report of GPA, the Fisheries Director said the objective of the
consultancy on the comparative studies, was to conduct comparative analysis
of the fisheries port landing fees, fuel price tariffs and incentive in The
Gambia and Senegal in order to recommend to Gambia Government the right levels
to apply to ensure the competitive and profitability of the new Banjul
fisheries Jetty. Mr. Njai revealed that the consultant, Mr. Abdou Njie of Sahel
Management International, has successfully completed the study after exhaustive
investigation and analysis of the data collected in Senegal and The Gambia.
He concluded that the one day consultative meeting is a testimony of the
success of the comparative studies of the fisheries Jetty project.
In his opening statement, the Secretary of State for Fisheries, Water
Resources and National Assembly Matters, Yankuba Touray, noted the significance of
the fisheries sector in the national development efforts. SoS Touray
underscored his Department’s resolve in achieving a significant reduction in poverty
through increased food security, employment opportunities and Foreign
Exchange earning by means of sustainable management, exploitation and utilization of
fisheries resources. He said the construction of the Banjul Fisheries Jetty
would cater for landing and cold storage facilities among other things; that
the fisheries Jetty Project will create a window of opportunities for private
sector investment. The SoS called for the application of appropriate and
competitive prices in order to optimize the number of vessels using the Jetty
thus making it profitable and expressed hope for the efficient
operationslization of the new Banjul Jetty.
BEACH BOYS COMPLAIN OF MALTREATMENT BY SOLDIERS AND GTA
By Isatou Bittaye
The boys at the beach, commonly called “Bumpsters”, have raised their
dissatisfaction over the manner they are treated by the soldiers and staff of the
Gambia Tourism Authority (GTA) at the beach. Speaking to this reporter,
Ebrima Darboe, a beach boy, said they depend on the beach to earn their living,
but that they are being denied the freedom to do so by the GTA and soldiers at
the beach. He said that he has a Bar where he sells soft drinks and beer and
that he does not hustle or rob the tourists, but the soldiers treat him like
a “bumpster”. He said they always disturb him at the beach. Ebrima
complained that the GTA set rules for them, which according to him are not reasonable,
citing the GTA identity card as an example. He said that being at the beach
could sometimes bring opportunities for them, as they can be fortunate to
have a sponsor.
Ebrima added that they are not “bumpsters” who harass or rob tourists, but
are there to help tourist’s in order to get something from them for their
living. He said that he is a bar-keeper and some of his friends are fishermen
and juice pressers, that the only solution to their problem is for the soldiers
and the GTA to leave them to have their freedom at the beach. He added that
they are also urging the government to establish factories such as fishing
companies, etc as an alternative where they can be employed to enable them to
contribute to the development of the Gambia.
He called on the Hotel Managers to employ them in their hotels as
entertainers. Sheriff Ceesay, another beach boy told Foroyaa that their main problem is
the soldiers.
He explained that they depend on the beach to make ends meet, but the
soldiers always disturb them. He said the soldiers sometimes arrest and detain them
at their camps for 72 hours, punished them by forcing them to do hard work
or even beat and torture them to stop going to the beach. He said this cannot
stop them from going to the beach..
Sheriff said they sometimes have good opportunities at the beach, but these
opportunities sometimes slip away due to the treatment meted out to them by
the soldiers. He also called on the government to create employment for young
people and for society to also change their perception that youths do no want
to work, but rather prefer to sit at street corners drinking green tea
(attaya). Sheriff challenged that everybody wants to leave a happy life and
develop his family and the nation. He said that people should have sympathy and
respect for each other. He agreed that there is occasionally one or two bad boys
who cause trouble but that this is not a general problem that should be used
as a pretext to deny them the beach.
Mr. Amadou Ceesay, the Director of Human Resources at the GTA, told this
reporter that the tourism industry needs to be regulated in order to achieve the
desired objectives. He said that the GTA understands that the frustrations
of the boys are as a result of poverty, but they will not allow them to wreck
the industry.
Mr. Ceesay said the GTA introduced the identity card to make sure that only
people with bona fide businesses are allowed to go to the beach. He said
before the ID card is issued to anybody, the person must register with GTA. He
added that they have established the Tourism Security Unit (TSU) for the safety
and well being of the tourists and they operate within all areas frequented
by tourists. Mr. Ceesay said the GTA understands that the “bumpster” problem
is a social problem and decided to tackle it in two approaches. He said the
GTA has created employment schemes such as the official tourist guide scheme,
which was introduced in 1997, that the scheme is a poverty alleviation
scheme that trains and employs “bumpsters” as guides. He said they also conduct
sensitisation programmes on the TV and radio and also go to schools to
sensitise people on the negative effects of bumpsters and try to introduce people to
ways they can contribute positively to the nation. He said that the reality
is that everybody cannot be employed in the tourism industry and the beach
boys “bumpst negatively”’. He said some juice presser’s method of operation
at the beach is unhygienic and can cause health problems to the tourists. He
said they don’t allow juice pressers to operate in an area where there is no
tap. He said they have allocated places where they should operate but some
boys do scatter along the beach.
He added that he received e-mail from a tourist that some boys were trying
to harass her at the beach, which he said could drive tourist from the Gambia
and that will be a great loss to the economy.
On his part, Lt. Ousman Bah, the head of the Tourism Security Unit, (TSU)
said the unit is mandated with the responsibility of clearing the industry with
all forms of illegal acts such as hustling, robbing, prostitution,
bumpsting, drug dealing and other criminal acts under the Gambia Tourism Offences Act.
Lt. Bah said they are trained professionally to deal with people, either
Gambians or non-Gambians, and are to make sure that nobody harass or rob
tourists. He denied the allegation that they arrest and beat or torture people, but
noted that they arrest people they found hustling tourists and detain them
for 72 hours.
He said during the 72 hours of detention, they normally ask the arrestees to
perform cleansing exercises because they committed offences and that is
their form of punishment and they feed them with three daily meals, which is
sponsored by GTA. He said some boys did not have the valid documents to be at the
beach and the TSU now has a drug squad and immigration unit and they monitor
drug dealers and people without valid documents. Lt. Bah noted that they
have rules governing them to provide a safe and secure environment for people
doing business in the tourism development area. He said they operate from
Atlantic Hotel to Sanyang on a daily basis to protect tourist, which is their
responsibility, and the national interest is paramount since tourism contributes
a lot to the country. He said some boys do not want their presence at the
beach but they use dialogue to enlighten them on the importance of tourism.
Lt. Bah said they are trying to introduce a plan whereby anybody arrested
will be taken to GTA to be recruited in their cleansing team. He said they know
they are dealing with their own brothers but it is their responsibility. He
said they are trying to build and foster civil-military relations and people
should understand that it is their mandate to control and secure the beach.
Lawyer Tambedou Defends Omar Ndow
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
The economic crime trial involving the former Managing Director of Gamtel,
Mr. Omar Ndow could not proceed on Wednesday 7 November at the Banjul
Magistrates Court. The prosecution was supposed to reply to the “no case to answer”
submission by the defence on the last sitting date. Holding brief for ASP
Momodou Bojang was Corporal 1831 Sanyang, who informed the court that ASP Bojang
was involved in another case at Kanifing Magistrates Court. Corporal Sanyang
told the court that it is impossible for ASP Bojang to make it to the Banjul
Court. He applied for and adjournment to enable ASP Bojang to be available.
The defense counsel, Sheriff M. Tambedou, argued that if the prosecution has
no reply to his submission, he would urged the court to deliver a ruling on
the matter. Counsel Tambedou added that the prosecution did not advance any
genuine reasons for their absence. Mr. Tambedou said instead of appearing
before a Principal Magistrate, he went to attend a case before a first class
magistrate. Principal Magistrate B.Y. Camara ruled that the case is a sensitive
matter and for the cause of justice to be served, he would adjourn the matter
to a short date. He noted that the reason advanced by the prosecution is not
reasonable enough.
TRIBUTE TO THE LATE BABOUCARR GAYE
A MENTOR, FRIEND, COLLEAGUE AND FATHER
Baboucarr Gaye, one of the titans of the Gambian Media, was a courageous,
honest, and very principled journalist who had contributed enormously towards
the growth of the media in the country your untimely death has sent shock
waves through many in The Gambia and beyond.
We have lost a hero, a champion, a fighter for freedom of expression and
human rights. Baboucarr you are gone but your deeds will remain with us. You
will always be remembered by the old, young and the interested readership.
Though once a time he was a gem
A man of manly manners made
A king and a champion all in one
Of fresh and newly blood and bones
Here before us lies the past
Now stripped of any presence kept
A history stripped and only left
With memories lit in faded colors
Though of an era past and distant
He was a thing dearly desired
More than gems and diamonds too
No price ever could match his worth
Here before us indifference lies
In a static state and stagnant
In this world, lifeless and listless
Lethargic, languid and torpid
Once in him was greatly action
Ambition, toughness and talent
In many ways inspiring and funny
He loved to fly, though now he lies
Here before us lies the fresh
Yet we think and talk of greatness
Could he then be gone and done
By just an end to the flesh he wore
Baboucarr rest in eternal peace. Till we meet again
From your daughter, and colleague
Agi cox - Bah
FOCUS ON POLITICS
IN THE 1988 KUKOI SCARE,
ACCUSED PERSONS ALLEGED SEVERE
TORTURE UNDER DURESS
We have been focusing on politics in this column and this compels us to
follow the narration of political events from the Pre-colonial period to the
Post-Independence era. We have successfully covered the narration of events up to
the year 1988.
In the last issue, we have stopped where we said Mr. Sisoho expressed his
concern, among other things, that for Foroyaa to associate Mr Tombong Saidy and
Amadou Kabir to MOJA may make things difficult for them.
Let us continue from where we stopped
The treason trials concerning one Musa Sanneh, Amadou Badjie, Adrian Sambou
and Ousman Sanneh continued. The concern of the PDOIS supporters at the time
was the alleged link that was being portrayed in court by the prosecution
appearing to link Kukoi to PDOIS.
However, the trial revealed glaring allegations of torture by the accused
persons. The allegations made were so serious as to attract the attention of
the international media. For example, by about 9 May, the BBC attended the
trial and reported on the allegations of torture by the accused persons.
According to the BBC report, all the accused persons alleged that their statements
were obtained under severe torture on several occasions. The prosecution
objected to the allegation, which led to a trial within a trial to determine
whether the accused persons were indeed tortured.
In his testimony in court, Amadou Badjie ,one of the accused persons, told
the court in minute details how he was tortured by Deputy Commander Sainey
Mbye and six other officers, all of whom he pointed out in court, one after the
other. Badjie said Mbye ordered him to be stripped to his under-pants, which
was done. He also said a Jola officer was chosen (since he was a Jola) to tie
his hands together at the wrists. Badjie said Mbye then ordered the same
officer to push an iron rod between his knees and elbow joints, saying the
officer does not need to worry whether Badjie was hurt or not in the process.
Badjie alleged that after the rod had been forcefully inserted through his
knees, each of the two ends was placed on a chair with him thus trussed up
and dangling above the two chairs. He said that whilst in this position, Sainey
Mbye had a small blue machine brought and placed on a nearby table. Justice
Ayoola who presided over the trial within a trial did not give a ruling on
the case at the time.
In the case of Musa Sanneh, who also alleged the same torture, Ayoola
dismissed his statement and upheld that of the statement of the police. The police
demanded for the examination a private medical doctor to establish whether
Badjie was indeed tortured or not. Interestingly enough, the period coincided
with the Second Conference on Human and People’s Rights organized by its
Secretariat and was to be held in the Gambia to consider the progress made since
it was adopted by the many African heads of State that attended it. That
conference was preceded by a demonstration involving Mr. Jabel Sallah, who at the
time had just won the Banjul South Seat in the 1987 general elections. Mr.
Jabel Sallah during this conference boldly appealed to participants to have
due regard for human rights and to stop the practice of persecution of those
with opinions different from that of the ruling parties and governments,
freedom of the press, human rights and the means of survival.
By April 1988, reports of an agreement between the United States of America
and The Gambia Government reached the news stands that Banjul International
Airport was to be used as an emergency landing site for the US space shuttle.
This not only infuriates some Gambians but also frightened many and became a
subject of intense debate.
Observers had also noticed that just within a short time after the
agreement, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Security arrived in Banjul on an
official mission. Some believed that the two events were related. They
expressed suspicion that the Americans were concerned about their own security and
global strategy. They further suspected that the whole thing might have been
part of the East/ West struggle for global domination, which could entangle
small Gambia in that imbroglio. They asked what guarantees did the Gambia had
that the Americans would not utilize the facilities as a military surveillance,
and listening centre and whether such a centre would not become a military
target by the Russians or any other belligerents in times of conflict.
Many questions were equally raised as to what Gambia could benefit from such
a facility, apart from, maybe a few dollars for rentage and possibly putting
our regime in the good books of the US government.
Critics of the Agreement said Gambia purports to be a non-aligned state and
as such, we should keep clear of all super power rivalries. According to the
Nation, the Gambia had the trend to lean on the West on certain fundamental
issues when it had been clearly established that the West’s stance was purely
on political rather than moral grounds. They cited some cases when the
Gambia voted at the UN and other international forums condemning the Soviet Union’
s invasion of Afghanistan whilst Gambia never publicly condemned the American
invasion of Grenada or Libya or their aggressive policies in other parts of
the world.
The rumour of Kukoi coupled with the treason trials of the four men linked
to Kukoi made many observers to feel that the threat made by Kukoi could
indeed be true. The Nation Newspaper reported several incidents in Banjul, which
stunned many people. According to them, just in the span of a week, people
they described as desperadoes had ransacked the Anglican Church in Serrekunda
and got away with silverware as well as goods in some Mauritanian shops in
Banjul. They also succeeded in robbing many shops of hundreds of thousands of
Dalasis as well as carjacking a land rover headed for the National Library and
fired on the door of its store. This pattern of crime, which was said to be
repeated throughout the city of Banjul and the environs, was said to have been
extended, albeit, slowly to the rural areas, thus introducing a new
phenomenon.
The Nation observed that this was a situation that was very reminiscent of
the crimes and violent deaths just few months before the coup d’etat of 1981.
The Government was said to have appeared to be indifferent to this situation
because of the fact that they want to assure world, donors and tourists that
The Gambia was a peaceful country where nothing of the sort, like violent
crime, happened. The incident at the library meant a lot of challenges to the
security forces, the Nation newspaper warned.
The issue of Foroyaa, the organ of the (PDOIS) which was refused entry to
the State House after the last interview that Sam Sarr had with president
Jawara, compelled the Nation to make an assessment of its performance and thus
concluding that the paper was barely a year old but it seems to have made a
tremendous impact on the regime’s attitude towards the press. Its appearance,
the Nation wrote, had resulted in the regime adopting a somewhat defensive
posture towards the local press in general and the Foroyaa in particular. As a
result of such a defensive posture assumed by the regime, certain things that
everyone took for granted had either been stopped or undergone some changes.
For example, it had been customary for the president to call a press
conference whenever he returned from an overseas trip involving all local journalists
and to discuss not necessarily everything but issues pertaining to the trip
in question. But this, the Nation stated, has even changed.
According to the Nation, they have also observed that whether it is as a
consequence of the appearance of Foroyaa or a mere co-incidence, but the
president seemed to have abandoned the idea of calling press conferences every time
he returns from overseas, and when he does, questions are restricted to the
trip in question. It also appeared that they want to exclude Foroyaa
reporters from all press conferences organized by the State. The Nation also cited
another circumstantial victim of the Foroyaa syndrome appeared to have been the
popular radio Gambia programme “press Review” in which they used to
broadcast a sampling of editorial comments of the various local papers and some
international publication. This programme was stopped shortly after the
appearance of Foroyaa, apparently because they did not want to quote an opposition
paper like the Foroyaa on the air. The Nation opined that they would have been
comfortable if they had continued the programme and excluded Foroyaa from the
review but that they thought the easiest way to solve their problem was to
discontinue the programme altogether. As regards the president’s press
conferences, there appeared to be a conspiracy to bar Foroyaa reporters from
attending. The Nation recalled that the last time a Foroyaa reporter attended such a
press conference, the president seemed to have been personally offended by
his style of questioning and at one stage, he even requested an apology from
the reporter for a remark he had made.
Since that day The Nation observed there appeared to be an orchestrated
campaign to exclude Foroyaa reporters from all press conferences. It was reported
that during a press conference organised by Dr. Asamoah, the Ghanaian
Foreign Secretary, during his recent visit to Banjul, the Foroyaa reporter was
refused entry to state house to attend the press conference. When the press
attaché at the president’s office was approached, he said it was the minister of
External Affairs who organised the press conference and he, could not do
anything about that.
When the president called his last press conference and invited all
accredited journalists the Foroyaa reporters, Mr. Sam Sarr and Halifa Sallah were
again refused entry to state house. There was no reason given for refusing them
entry, despite the fact that both reporters were accredited journalists. This
was the time when the PPP used to complain why the PDOIS was putting on both
the political and journalist caps.
AS LEGISLATORS GIVE POWERS
TO PRESIDENT JAMMEH
Aspiring Council Candidate Changes Course
By Musa Jobateh
An aspiring disabled candidate for the Local Government election slated for
February 2008, for Latrikunda Ward, Saineyba Saho, on Monday announced his
decision to discontinue his aspiration as a candidate due to the new local
government law passed by the NAMs in the parliament on Wednesday, November 1st.
In an interview with Foroyaa at his Latrikunda resident, Saineyba Saho who
was confident that he was the choice of the people in his ward, disclosed that
with the existence of the new local government law, his candidature will be
useless. Mr. Saho said he did not want to fail the confidence bestowed on him
by his people. He asserted that it is of no significance to be given power
by people and not have a room to demonstrate it, only because it will be “
seized” by an individual.
“It is very undemocratic for the president to be given such absolute powers
to dismiss or dissolve any councillor elected by people, because he (the
president) was elected by people, that’s why he is occupying his office as the
head of state,” said Mr. Saho. He continued “I have all the skills and
potentials to develop my ward to modern estate, but it is still useless as I will
not be given the chance to work according to my own will.”
Saineyba Saho who strongly believes that disables can also deliver
positively and contribute equally to national development. He said “In fact this is
one factor that motivates me to aspire to contest for the local government
election, to show the whole world that home is not the only place for the
disabled.”
Mr. Saho finally thanked all those who were supporting him and called on
them not to be discouraged. He said his doors are open for them any time they
want to exchange views, as he is part and parcel of them.
Protection From Violence, Exploitation
And Abuse Of Children
(Courtesy of unicef)
In this edition of children’s corner, we still continue on the 2006 unicef
children’s report. This time around is the protection from violence, abuse and
exploitation of children, which still remains an obstacle in the lives of
children worldwide.
Disasters, emergencies and trauma were no strangers to children in 2006.
Armed conflict disrupted children’s tranquility from Afghanistan to Sri Lanka to
Sudan and beyond. Natural disasters ripped apart children’s lives in
Ethiopia, India, Nepal Pakistan, Peru and the Philippines. Famine and floods crept
across the Horn of Africa. And displaced persons languished in camps in such
countries as Chad, Romania and Somalia. Young people toiled in the worst forms
of labour, young women suffered the indignities of sexual harassment and
discrimination, and girls and women endured the horrors of rape and sexual
assault in nearly every corner of the globe. The UN Secretary-General’s Study on
Violence against Children released in 2006 documents the atrocities children
experience on a daily basis.
Through it all, when disaster strikes, UNICEF is on the ground to provide
basic services and attempt to transform crises into opportunities.
Life-saving supplies were brought to families living in Chad after fleeing
the slaughter in Darfur (Sudan). Safe water, soap, blankets, vaccinations and
high-protein biscuits will stave off disease and death until the displaced
can return to their homeland. Some 2.1 million people displaced within Darfur
received essential health-care services, and 1.2 million children received
polio vaccinations and vitamin A supplements. While basic supplies and services
continue to sustain life in the camps, the children of southern Sudan have
reached a crossroads. With three quarters of an estimated 8 million people in
the area unable to read or write, the UNICEF-sponsored ‘Go to School’
campaign in 2006 beckoned children into classrooms so they can ‘rise from the ashes’
after two decades of war.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where it is believed that between
8,000 and 11,000 children continue to be associated with armed forces and
groups, UNICEF responded within 48 hours to violence that erupted in July in the
eastern part of the country.
A convoy of trucks, escorted by armed UN peacekeepers, delivered biscuits,
salt, beans, wheat, cooking utensils and plastic sheeting for shelter.
Throughout 2006, UNICEF helped demobilize and reintegrate children used by armed
groups and forces by providing education, recreation and counselling to former
fighters, and counselling, medical care and vocational skills to girls and
women who had been sexually exploited.
Within 24 hours after Java (Indonesia) was rattled by an earthquake, UNICEF
was there to provide devastated communities with safe water, sanitation and
hygiene kits. Within three days, children were playing and receiving
psychosocial support in child protection centres, and less than two weeks later,
students were being schooled in UNICEF-supplied tents.
At the beginning of the conflict in southern Lebanon in July 2006, UNICEF
collaborated with the Lebanese Red Cross to deliver crucial assistance to
displaced children and families in hard-to-reach areas. Later on, UNICEF aided
non-governmental organizations’ mobile primary, health and immunization clinics,
and child-friendly recreation and psychosocial programmes. UNICEF also
supported a major Back-to-School’ drive and mine-risk education initiatives.
Turning catastrophe into triumph has been the goal of UNICEF’s rebuilding
process in countries ravaged by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Throughout
India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Thailand, communities have ‘built back
better’. In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India, for example, doctors,
nurses and anganwadi (childcare) workers, were trained in the Integrated
Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illnesses strategies. UNICEF also helped
establish a Sick Newborn Care Unit to provide tertiary care to infants. In
Malaysia, trauma recovery work is conducted with children and adolescents through
arts and leadership workshops.
In 2006, UNICEF appealed for $1.2 billion to ensure the protection of women
and children in 53 emergencies. Not quite half that sum was raised by
November, leaving UNICEF to respond only to the most urgent needs of children and
women in crisis. With a commitment to humanitarian relief reform UNICEF has set
out to better predict and respond to emergencies. Along with other agencies,
UNICEF has implemented the ‘cluster approach’, a collaboration between
service providers, in Cote d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Indonesia, Lebanon, Liberia, Somalia and Uganda. As long time leader of the global
cluster of UN agencies for nutrition, water and sanitation, and for common
data services and now as a partner in developing a global education cluster,
UNICEF will continue to strengthen its humanitarian response and follow its Core
Commitments For Children in Emergencies.
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
THE WIFE BATTERER
Part 3
The Terrorist
Dave saw the complimentary card that was given to Rama. He burst into ‘flames
’. He went straight to Rama to enquire. “Who gave you this card?” Dave
questioned Rama. As she tried to explain he turned her into a punching bag. Dave
gave Rama the beat of her life. She ran into her room and locked it. Dave
ran after her. He drummed the door and shouted from the outside. “Open the door
you harlot! That’s why I refuse for you to practice your profession. How
many more complimentary cards would you have received by now. I swear I’ll kill
you!” Daved paced up and down the inner corridor. Rama shook like a leaf in
her bedroom. She cried herself to sleep.
A Nervous Wreck
In the morning, all her body ached. She drank some medicine and applied hot
rob all over her body. She was ill.
The Gate Man, Abdou
Abdou, the gateman is a great gossiper. The driver, Gibril reported for
work. He dragged him aside and told him about the crisis. “Gibs! Boss is wicked
oh! He turns madam into a punching bag. He gave her the beating of her life.
Boss have no respect for his wife. Poor woman E so nice! No problem”. Gibril
asked. “Did you try to separate them?” “Separate them! Do you want me to
loss my job? Ah once tried it but Ah received a nasty slap for it. Boss
threatened to sack me if ah interfere in eh life”. Gibril bit his lower lip. “I’ll
interfere if I am around. I’ll not watch him maim his wife. He does not
deserve her. She is such a beautiful lady”. Abdou agreed. “You na graduate. You
deh just pass time. As soon as you see another thing you go leave. But for me na
poor man with two village wives and fifteen children. Me papa, mama dey na
village. They all look up to me”. “Where is boss?” “EH don left now, now, in
a hurry”. “What about Madam?” “Madam day na room”. “Okay! Let me go for
keys”.
Gibril Knocks At The Door
Gibril knocked at the front door. Rama came to open it with a plastic smile.
“Are you okay madam?” Gibril asked. “I am a bit feverish but I’ll take
care of it. Its okay! Thank you”. She brought in the keys. Gibril took them and
thanked her. “Feek free! You can trust me. I’ll always help you”. Gibril
announced. “Okay!” Rama locked the front door and went back to the house.
Gibril went on some errands for his boss before reporting back to the office.
Shut Herself In Her Room
Rama shut herself in her room incommunicado. She drank her tranquillisers
and mend her bruises. Her face and body were all swollen.
Dave At Work
Dawda was at work. He suffered from guilty conscience. He thought very hard.
As usual, he displayed his brutish tendencies before coming to work. He knew
his wife was hurt. He called for Gibril. “Rama is not feeling well. Take
this money buy her some groceries and ask her to see our family doctor”. Gibril
went in a jiffy.
Gibril Delivers Message
Gibril delivered Dave’s message to his wife. He gave her the groceries and
cash. “He asked me to tell you to see your family doctor”. “Thanks!” Rama
aid. Gibril left for the office.
Rama Not Seen
Dave came back to an empty house. He called her name over and over again but
Rama was nowhere to be seen”. She must have left for that witch’s house,
Kate! Catherine interferes too much in my marital affairs”. He headed for Katty’
s house.
At Kate’s House
Dave drummed the Gate and shouted Katty’s name. The Gateman, Paul decided to
ignore him. But he persisted. Paul protested and came to him. “What is it
man? Can I help you?” he became sulky and rude. “No! You cannot help me. Go
and get your boss. I want to speak to her”. Paul went to call Katty.
Katty And Ron
Kate and Ron came out to meet Dave. “What is it? Can I help you? Why do you
drum my gate to annoy me?” Catherine asked. “Where is my wife? Why do you
want to break my marriage, Kate? What have I done to you?” Dave protested. “Am
I your wife’s keeper? Who told you she is with me? Are you man enough to
hold a wife?” They quarreled bitterly, hauling tirades against each other.
Ronald intervened. He spoke first to Katty. “It okay! There is no need to quarrel
with him”. “But he accused me. How is he so sure that his wife is with me?
Am I his wife’s keeper? He have no respect for woman. He does not deserve a
woman not to talk about a wife. I am sorry Rone but I have to handle this
useless chauvinist”. Dave raised his hand to hit Katty. “Wife batterer! Violent
saddist! Hit me! That will be your end. You will rot in jail and end your
miserable life there”. Ronald spoke directly to Dave. “Boyfriend! You have to
take it easy with these women. It is not manly to beat your wife. You are use
to it. Look a your action just now. You want to hit a liberated woman? You
would have land yourself into serious trouble”. But you are not restraining her.
You watch Katty insulted my person”. Dave protested. “I don’t own Katty.
She owns herself. We are equal human beings in a positive relationship. We
respect each other’s position. I can only try to convince not to force her”.
David appealed directly to Katty. “Please! Can you tell my wife to see me? I
want us discuss family matters”. “That’s better approach. I’ll go and tell her
your message”.
Continuation of interview with Halifa Sallah
Part 9
You and Sidia have been the focal points of PDOIS. Recently you stood as a
presidential candidate and some people have been commenting on your relation.
Can you throw light on this?
My first mission up country as a Social welfare officer in 1978 was in Wuli.
I went to deal with a fire incident at Medina. I proceeded with Sainey
Snghateh who was the MP for the constituency at the time to his village, Foday
Kunda where I had the most remarkable experience of my life. I met an old man by
the name of Pa Foday. He spoke broken English. I noted everything he said in
my diary. As Amilcar Cabral had argued the African intellectual could not
truly serve his people until he/she returns to the source, until he /she
commits class suicide. I made it a principle to take sociological data of every
village I visited. I took note of the social structure; some historical facts;
the level of awareness of the population; the land tenure system and the
social amenities available such as schools, health centres, the number of wells
and other infrastructure. Pa Foday gave me his account as a slave and how he
was sent to Burma because of his physical strength. He explained his heroic
deeds and how their European commanders admired them because of their valour. To
cut matters short in order to get to the point Pa Foday was promised the
heaven and the earth by his commanders for his bravery only to be returned to
Foday Kunda to continue to be a slave. I was also amazed by the sense of
organisation of the youth led by Hamme if my memory served me right: They had
organised themselves into groups with village youth ministers who carried out
their different responsibilities and took their roles very seriously. I developed
friendship with the Youngman until he went abroad. I visited the school at
Sutu koba where I met the late Mamadi Jabai who eventually became a PDOIS
candidate. My notes were burnt by an innocent loved one when we were arrested in
1983 thinking that it could implicate me. A whole sociological library
regarding the Gambian country side was reduced to ashes. When I started the Maggi
elek programme on radio and was approached by Lalo Samateh to do it in
Mandinka I had to get a member of our staff from Wuli, Mondo Singhateh to help me
with the translation.This is why the Mandika I speak is of Wuli origin. At that
time I did not know Sidia. When consultation began to establish PDOIS and
Sam told me that he had consulted with him I became very inspired that somebody
from that neglected part of the country had accepted to be a pioneer of a
struggle to liberate the poorest of the poor. When Sidia accepted to resign
from the Civil service I personally felt that PDOIS would find in Sidia an Ideal
Presidential candidate who would know what deprivation of a people really
meant. Fortunately we all saw eye to eye and Sidia was elected to preside over
the affairs of the Central committee while I was elected to look after the
day to day affairs of the party. We wanted to announce the development
regarding the composition of the executive but Sidia counselled that we should not do
that since each of us would have to test ourselves to know whether we could
be equal to the task or not. More over each was expected to fight
shortcomings so that the people will find us to be credible when they found out who
constituted the party leaders. This is why we ended up transforming party offices
into an internal matter which led some members of the previous regime to
accuse PDOIS of not having leaders.
Is that why Sidia continued to be PDOIS’Presidential Candidate?
There is more to it than that. Any member of the Party could present himself
as a Candidate. People often do not consider matters in a sequence. Prior to
the coup Sidia stood as a presidential candidate only once, in 1992 to be
precise. The results were not unexpected because of the work of liberating
minds we had to shoulder. We had little resources and no Political patrons. We
were opposed to cheque book politics and had to move from village to village to
convince people. We knew that the work will be slow but sure. It is
important to narrate what gave us confidence that we were changing the face of
Gambian politics with tremendous resistance from those who did not want change.
Every attempt we made to clarify issues they would come to distort and disfigure
our programmes. When we had succeeded in gaining foot hole in Wuli and had
intention to move in the same way in other areas the coup occurred. Many of the
strong youths who supported us and were keen in establishing party branches
thought that revolution had come and that we were going to join the band
wagon. They abandoned us and supported the coup. When they discovered that we had
rejected the ministerial posts offered by the coup makers. We therefore had
to start from scratch again in 1996 under totally different circumstances.
Would you clarify why Gambian intellectuals are not promoting PDOIS?
This is a matter of opinion. Many also were in readiness to sacrifice. First
and foremost it is important to tell you the type of people we started with.
In the first Parliamentary election in 1987 we put up five Candidates Sidia
Jatta, Sam Sarr, Dr. Baboucarr Gaye, Abas Manneh and Halifa Sallah.
To be continued
Sheriff Minteh’s Murder Trial Adjourned
As Defence Lawyer Fails To Appear
By Musa Barrow
Magistrate Buba Jawo of Bundung Magistrates Court yesterday adjourned the
criminal case involving the state and Dodou Janneh (alias Dodou Boy) till
Tuesday 13 November 2007. The adjournment of the case was due to the absence of
the defense lawyers, namely Sherrif Tambedou, Lamin Jobarteh and Lamin Camara..
Speaking before the court, the police prosecutor, Samateh urged the
Magistrate to call on the defence counsels to take the case with a degree of urgency.
Samateh asked why none of the three defence lawyers fail to appear in court.
He further added that he had brought a witness who was due to give evidence.
When Magistrate Buba Jawo asked the accused Dudou Janneh his opinion, he
responded by saying that he could not proceed in the absence of his defence
lawyers. As a result, Magistrate Jawo adjourned the case until next week. Readers
would recall that this case has suffered two adjournments in a row.
Brikama Area Council Management
Committee Inaugurated
By Modou Jonga
A twelve-member interim management committee of the Brikama Area Council
selected in conformity with the Amendment of the Local Government Act was on
Wednesday 7 November 2007 inaugurated at a ceremony held at the council ground.
The twelve-member interim management committee, are in the persons of Mr.
Abdou FM Badjie, Governor of Western Region as Chairman., Mr. Landing Sanyang,
Mr. Henry Jammeh, Mrs. Aja Ndey Jatta, Alhagie Babou Sarr, Mr. Yuba Jarju,
Mrs. Nato Camara, Mr. Yaya Tamba, Mr. Damba Kujabi, Mr. Ebrima Beyai, Mr. Karamo
Bojang and Mr. Lamin Waa Juwara.
In his inaugural speech, the chairman of the interim management committee
and Governor of the Western Region, Mr. FM Badjie commended the president for
the trust and confidence bestowed on them. Governor Badjie noted the resolve
of the members of his committee in steering the affairs of the Brikama Area
Council with commitment and dedication. He called for the cooperation of all
stakeholders to enable them to realize their aspirations.
Other speakers at the inaugural ceremony included the Chief Executive of the
Brikama Area Council, Mr. Momodou Jallow, the BAC outgoing Chairman Mr.
Ousman Gaye, amongst others. Mr. Seringe Modou Joof, Public Relations Officer of
the Brikama Area Council, chaired the ceremony.
GACEM Case Suffers Setback
By Saikou Ceesay
The theft case involving the seven employees of Gacem Company Ltd and the
State resumed at the Kanifing Magistrates Court before Senior Magistrate
Abdoulie Mbacke on Tuesday 6 November. The Gacem employees are accused of stealing
forty six bags of cement. Police Prosecutor, 870 Touray applied for an
adjournment on the basis that the first prosecution witness is absent. He said PW1’
s absence coincides with his busy time to prepare some document. The case is
to resume on 15 November for PW1 to be cross examined by the defence counsel.
Basse and Kerewan Area Councils Form
Interim Management Committees
By Lamin Fatty & Sarjo Camara-Singhateh
The Interim Management Committees set up by the president of the Republic of
The Gambia President Yahya Jammeh in accordance with the new amendment of
the local government act , was inaugurated on the 6 of November 2007 at the
Basse Area Council chambers. The ceremony was attended by the Chairman of the
Interim Committee Alhagie Omar Khan the Governor. The out going Chairman of the
Basse Area Council Kanimang Sanneh, the CEO of the Basse Area Council Foday
Darboe as well as other members of the council and the general public
attended. The new management committee is as follows: Assan Jawo a native of Jawo
Kunda, Alhagie Sanyang (Jum) of Kusun in Kantora, Muhammed Drammeh of
Sanunding, Mariama Drammeh of Pirai, Yerro Baldeh Mballow of Sare Bojo, Ansumana
Drammeh of Diabugu Batapa, Kassum Jallow of Farato, Muhammed Tunkara of Alungharr,
Mbackeh Darboe (Malamin) of Brifu and the Governor of URR Omar Khan acting
as the Chairman of the committee.
Addressing the members of the new committee, the governor of URR, Omar Khan
highlighted that the interim management committee is charged with the
responsibility of managing the affairs of the Basse Area Council, such as to prepare
the council for a better and more efficient administration during the period
leading to the forth coming local Government elections scheduled for January
2008. He urged them to take their appointment as a challenge and live up to
expectations.
In another development, the North Bank Region also inaugurated their interim
management team as selected by the president to run the Area Council in
Kerewan until after the council elections. They are: Sainey Dibba PRO AFPRC
Hospital, Farafenni, Batch Cham Ngain Sanjal, Amie Jallow Taliya, Kemo Kinteh of
Kinteh Kunda, Samba (Batch) Cham of Chamen, Nianija ,Karamo of Manneh
Buniadu, Chief Queen Janneh Sitanunku and Edward Seckan Governor of NBR as the
Chairperson.
Gamstar and Kanifing Go Headlong at SK West
By Modou Nyang
The Serrekunda West Nawettan league final between Gamstar Giants and
Kanifing United will be replayed tomorrow. The first match between the two last
Sunday ended in a stalemate as there was no winner at the end of the match.
Last years winners Kanifing United are hoping to defend their crown whilst
Bakoteh based Gamstar Giants want to register their name on the league winners
list.
SK East: Bantaba Claim Knockout Cup
By Isatou Bittaye & Sulayman Bah
Bantaba FC clinched the Serrekunda East Nawettan Knockout trophy in a
dramatic 1-0 victory against Maccassa FC on Sunday.
The match kicked-off to great expectation from both sides, cheered by
enthusiastic supporters. Maccassa’s much feared attacker Omar Jassey alias
Waterman, attempted to steal the show in the 1st minute after Bantaba took the
kickoff, by seizing the ball and cut through the defence but the goalkeeper denied
him
Bantaba were on alert and knew what was to follow if they give away the ball
so easily. And they responded quickly to the task in hand when Augustus
Nyouki scored in the 10th minute to put them ahead. Maccassa fought back very
hard to level the score and Waterman was on it again in the 24th minute but his
effort was blocked by the Bantaba defence.
Maccassa took to the field in the second period with more determination to
get back into the game and they had their destiny on their own hands in the
60th minute when they were awarded a penalty. Star player Lamin Saho went
forward for the spot kick but his effort went out wide adding to his team’s
frustration.
At the end Bantaba were handed a cash amount of D7, 000 together with a
trophy and Maccassa went home with D5, 000. Bantaba’s lively goalkeeper Modou
Jauju was voted the most valuable player of the match and was presented with
D500 provided by the 1st Vice President of the Gambia Football Association,
Brigadier General Lang Tombong Tamba.
For the final of the league competition on Sunday, AC Milan and Maccassa
will battle it out for the bigger prize for the Serrekunda East 2007 Nawettan
zone.
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